Elevator-operating mechanism



2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

C. WHITTIER. ELBVATOR GPERATING MEGHANISM.

No. 442,344. Patented Dec. 9, 1890.

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. C. WHITTIER.

BLBVATGR OPERATING MEGHANISM.

No. 442,344. Patented Deo. 9, 1'890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES WI-IITTIER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELEVATOR-OPERATING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,344, dated December9, 1890.

Application iiled June 10,1890. Serial No. 354,928. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES WHITTIER, of Boston, county of Suffolk,State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inElevator-Operating Mechanism, of which the following description, inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, likeletters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to elevator-operating mechanism, and is hereinshown as embodied in that class of elevators known as the drumelevator.

My invention has for its object to simplify and improve the constructionof elevator-operatin g mechanism, whereby economy in space is obtainedand the operating mechanism enabled to be placed in a substantiallysmall compass, so that buildings in large cities, where space is animportant factor, may be equipped with an elevator mechanism atsubstantially small expense, the cost of maintaining the elevatormechanism being reduced to a minimum.

In accordance with my invention the power employed to operate theelevator mechanism is obtained from an electric motor having itsarmaturesh aft detach ably connected directly to an independentworin-shaft, preferably provided with a right and left worm inengagement with two worm-gears in mesh with one another.

The particular features in which my invention consists will be pointedout in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure l is a section to the right of the dotted line n3 0c, Fig. 2, ofa drum-elevator-operating mechanism embodying my invention, the casecontaining the worms and wormgears being broken out; and Fig. 2, an endelevation of the motor mechanism shown in Fig. l, looking toward theleft, both of the drums being shown by full lines.

The case A, of suitable strength, is herein shown as made in two parts aa', which are suitably joined together in any well-known manner, thelower part a of the said casing being secured to or forming part of thebase CL2. The case A contains within it, as herein shown, two worm-gears(1 a4, in mesh with one another and mounted on shafts a5 a, havingbearings in the sides of the case A. The shaft a, as herein shown, isextended beyond the sides of the case A, and has mounted on it atopposite sides of the said case drums al as, (see Fig. 2,) upon whichare wound the usual hoisting-ropes, (not shown,) but which in practicepass about sheaves at the top of the elevator shaft or well, and aresecured to the top of the elevator car or platform.

I have herein shown the shaft a" as provided with two hoistin g-dru ms,which are preferably used in passenger service on account of safety;but, if desired, only one drum may be used.

The worm-gears ai; a* are engaged by right and left worms h o', fast ona worm-shaft b2, having bearings in inwardly-projecting hubs h3 b4,forming part of or secured to caps 651), fastened to the case A, as bybolts bl.

The worm-shaft h2 is extended through the cap b5, and is secureddirectly to the armature-shaft 1112 of an electric motor bis by an`intermediate coupling, herein shown as a lianged hub hs on theworin-shaft, and a anged hub h1, fast on the armature-shaft 1212, whichis in line with the said worin-shaft, the said hubs being detachablysecured together by bolts h1", the armatureshaft having bearings, asherein shown, in uprights c c', secured to or forming part of a base c2.

In operation the electric motor D13 may be supplied with current in anyusual orwellknown manner, and the polarity of the said current may bechanged in any usual orwellknown manner, as by a pole-changer, (notshown,) but which in practice may be connected to the shipper-rope orother usual starting mechanism to produce revolution of thearmature-shaft in opposite directions to thereby produce rotations ofthe hoisting drum or drums in one or the opposite direction, as desired,to raise or lower the car. The base c2 of the motor is preferablysupported on the base c2. By connecting the armature-shaft of the motordirectly to the worm'shaft, as described, the elevator-operatingmechanism is made compact in form and occupies substantially littlespace, which is a very important factor in buildings in IOO largecities, and the said operating mechanism may be put in andy maintainedin operative condition at a Very considerable saving over the ordinarystyle of elevator-operating mechanism.

In practice it frequently happens that an armature burns out and must bereplaced, and in order that this change may be quickly effected Withoutdisturbing the remaining parts of the mechanism and Without occasioningany great delay in the operation of the elevator mechanism thearmature-shaft is connected directly tothe independent Worm# shaft by adetachable coupling.

The periphery of the flanged hub bs on the Worm-shaft is in practicepreferably made wide enough to be utilized as a brake-Wheel.

In actual practice the Worm-shaft and the connected armature-shaft havea very slight longitudinal motion which acts beneficially upon thesurfaces of the commutator and the brushes and prevents uneven Wear ofthe commutator-surface, and thereby obviates sparking at the brushes.

I do not herein claim, generically, the combination, in an elevatormechanism, of a Worm-shaft provided With a single Worm in mesh with aWorm-gear, and an electric motor having its armature-shaft connecteddirectly to the Worm-shaft by an intermediate detachable coupling, asthe same forms the subject-matter of another application, Serial No.570,280, iiled by me November 4, 1890.

I claim- 1. In elevator-operating mechanism, the followinginstrumentalities, viz: two Wormgcars in mesh With each other, aWorin-shaft provided With a right-and-left Worm in engagement with thesaid gears, an electric motor, its armature-shaft, and an intermediatedetachable coupling connecting the said armature-shaft directly to theWorm-shaft, sub* stantially as described.

2. In an elevator-operating mechanism, the case A,Wor1ngears in meshwith one another, located therein and mounted ou said shafts, havingbearings in said case, a Worm-shaft supported bythe said case andhavinga rightand-left Worm in engagement with said gears, combined withau electric motor, its armature-shaft in line `with the Worm-shaft, andan intermediate coupling, consisting of the flanged hubs 198510,connecting the said armature-shaft directly to the Worm-shaft,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES VHITTIER.

TWitnesses:

JAS. H. CHURCHILL, EMMA J. BENNETT.

